ἡδέως
hēdéōs
G2234 adverb
SILEX Entry
Definition
With delight, with pleasure; indicating an action done willingly and cheerfully. The word primarily communicates the sense of acting with inner satisfaction, enjoyment, or enjoyment in response to something perceived as agreeable. In some contexts, it implies eagerness or willingness rather than mere gladness.
Semantic Range
with pleasure, gladly, willingly, cheerfully, with delight, with satisfaction
Root / Etymology
From a derivative of ἡδονή (hēdonē, 'pleasure'), which is itself derived from the root ἡδ- ('sweet, pleasant, pleasing'). The adverbial ending is added to convey manner or disposition.
Historical & Contextual Notes
ἡδέως is well attested in classical Greek literature with the meaning 'pleasantly, sweetly, with delight.' In the Hellenistic and Koine periods, it retains its force and appears oftentimes in contexts where a person acts willingly or readily, sometimes contrasted with actions done by compulsion. In the New Testament (e.g. Mark 12:37; Acts 2:41), ἡδέως typically describes willingness or ready acceptance rather than superlative gladness; English translations such as 'gladly' or 'willingly' are close but may not always capture the nuance of pleasure and eager consent present in the original. Compared to synonyms like εὐθέως ('readily,' 'straightaway') or προθύμως ('eagerly'), ἡδέως uniquely emphasizes the element of pleasure or satisfaction in the action. Its usage is not specific to religious or cultic contexts, nor does it carry technical or ritual connotations. The sense of 'sweetly' in a literal or sensory manner is rare in the New Testament period, with the metaphorical or psychological sense predominating.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
adverb from a derivative of the base of ἡδονή; sweetly, i.e. (figuratively) with pleasure:--gladly.
Root Family
ἡδέως (hēdeōs) — to take pleasure, to find agreeable, sweetness, pleasantness
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2234-01 |
ἡδέως | edeos | ADV |
gladly | with delight | with delight | 3 |
Occurrences in Scripture
3 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2234-01 |
Mark 6:20 | ἡδέως | edeos | ADV |
gladly | with delight | with delight |
G2234-01 |
Mark 12:37 | ἡδέως | edeos | ADV |
gladly | with delight | with delight |
G2234-01 |
2 Corinthians 11:19 | ἡδέως | edeos | ADV |
gladly | with delight | with delight |